Sacrifice of the Cross and the work of Redemption(4) - 11th Sunday after Pentecost (8. 4. 2024)

 

Re-enactment & Perpetuation of the Sacrifice of the Cross : the Sacrifice of the Mass

 

Dear Faithful, we have talked about how(by which modes) the Sacrifice of the Cross works our redemption in last weeks’ sermons. There are 4 modes : by mode of merit, atonement, sacrifice, and redemption.

 

1. Difficulty in perpetuating & applying the Sacrifice of the Cross to all souls

 

By the death on the Cross, Our Lord obtained everything which is necessary for the salvation of mankind. However, the God’s work of redemption doesn’t end here. The effects of His death should be able to applied to mankind. How can it be done?

 

We face several difficulties at this point:

If all the souls of all places and of all times were able to gather together at Calvary 2000 years ago at the moment when Our Lord died on the cross, it seems it might have been possible for all souls to benefit from this Sacrifice of Our Lord, but we all know that this is an impossible scenario.

 

With this limitation in mind, we need to think about the solution regarding the issue of time and space. We need a way or means in order to apply the effects of the Sacrifice to numerous souls over the different times and different places. Therefore, there should be some rite (or ceremony) that by celebrating this, the Sacrifice of the Cross could be continued over the times and places thereby it can apply the effects of redemption to the souls.

What is this rite which Our Lord established? That is the sacrifice of the Mass. On the night of Holy Thursday, He established this while He was having the Last Supper with His apostles.

 

2. the Sacrifice of the Mass : continuation & re-enactment of the Sacrifice of the Cross

 

However, even with this rite of the mass, we don’t solve the difficulty altogether. There should be a intimate and real connection between the mass and the Sacrifice of the Cross. If the mass were to be a mere memorial (of the Sacrifice of the Cross), it cannot be called ‘sacrifice’ in the strict sense of the word. It would be just a commemoration. We still need the link (between the mass and the Sacrifice of the Cross) that makes the mass to be a real re-enactment of the Sacrifice which happened 2 thousand years ago on Calvary. What is this link?

 

Let us consider some important points of sacrifice before we answer this question.

- Sacrifice is an immolation of sensible thing in order to show our recognition of God's honor and our subjection to Him as Supreme being.

- Two important elements in offering sacrifice are priest (who offers it) and victim (which is immolated and offered). In the Sacrifice of the Cross, these two are same : Our Lord Jesus Christ is Himself the Priest (offerer) and the Victim (what is offered).

Therefore, in order for mass to be a re-enactment of the Sacrifice of the Cross, its offerer and victim must be Jesus Christ. What did Our Lord do during the Last supper in order to fulfill this condition?

- Firstly, He established the Sacrament of Eucharist. He left Himself (Body and Blood) in the bread and wine. These consecrated Bread and Wine are the victim in the mass. This victim is the life of Our Lord. What He offered on the Cross (in the Sacrifice of the Cross) was also His very life.

- Secondly, He ordained the Apostles as priests. These ordained priests are the celebrants (offerer) of the mass as ‘another Christ’. Our Lord uses them as His extension on earth. Because of this, the priests says “This is My Body, this is My Blood.” instead of ‘Body of Christ’ and ‘Blood of Christ’ during the consecrations.

 

The rite of the mass fulfills the requirements, not only to be a true sacrifice, but also a true and real re-enactment of the Sacrifice of the Cross. Therefore it is called the ‘Sacrifice’ of the mass. By attending the mass, we can participate in the Sacrifice of Our Lord on Calvary and enjoy the effects from it beyond the limitation of time and space.

 

3. Structure of mass & worthy manner of attendance

 

Let us briefly talk about the structure of the mass and worthy manner of attendance.

(1) Structure of the Mass

There are two parts : mass of the Catechumens & that of the Faithful.

- mass of the Catechumens is for our preparation for the sacrifice : contirition, instruction from preachings of Apostles/Prophets & from words of God (Our Lord)

- mass of the Faithful also can be divided into two:

1) Consecration (proper part of the sacrifice)

2) Communion (participation in the fruits of the sacrifice)

Consecration precedes communion and it is more important. In order for us to participate in the fruits of the sacrifice, we should offer it first. Therefore if you happen to arrive at the chapel later than the Offertory (which is one of the essential parts of the mass : offertory, consecration, communion of the priest), it is fitting that you should abstain from the communion.

Next, about worthy attendance in mass & worthy communion.

We need to dispose ourselves in uniting our intention with that of Christ who is the Priest in the mass. You may also add your own (personal) intention to this.

Concerning communion, we need to prepare ourselves with greater care.

If you are in the state of mortal sin, you should not approach to the communion table. If you do so, it is as if you offer Him pains of the Passion and Death anew. You must confess your sins in the confessional before the mass starts. “I’m in mortal sins but It’s ok, I’ll first receive communion and then confess after the mass ends.” is not the right attitude and it’s not allowed. Let us take great caution with regard to this point.

 

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My dear faithful, today we talked about the mass as continuation of the Sacrifice of the Cross.

In order to work the redemption beyond the limit of time and space for numerous souls, Our Lord Himself established the sacrifice of the mass. The mass is the precious inheritance entrusted to us by Our Lord. The salvation of mankind depends on it, because it is the re-enactment of the Sacrifice of the Cross.

“It is easier for the earth to exist without the Sun than without the Holy sacrifice of the mass.” Let us keep these words of Padre Pio in our heart, appreciating the value of the mass.

 

When we participate in the mass, we offer our life as victim together with the victim of the mass. When we consider the point that for a true mass Our Lord Jesus Christ must be the offerer and the victim thereof, let us strive to make our life (which we offer as our victim in the mass) to be that of Our Lord in every respect.

He, even now, is dearly looking for the souls who would continue His Sacrifice of the Cross in order to save whole mankind. Each one of you who are present at this mass are that very soul.

As many grains of wheat -after being crushed and united into one dough- becomes a bread which sustains the life of man, and as many grapes become wine which (delights and unites hearts of man thereby) sustains man’s social life,

let us offer our daily lives –with Our Lord, for Our Lord- as the victim which He ardently expects from us. This is how we live the mass in our life.

 

“Now it is Christ, not I, who lives in me.” (Gal 2:20, paraphrased)

Fr.  Longinus  Kim